The competition attracted teams of six students from universities across the country to complete tasks using the specialist business tool Xing. The competition enabled the students to test a variety of skills they will need when entering the business world.

The teams were challenged by IBM, one of the event sponsors, to devise a business plan to create a new medical wearable technology.

A team from Plymouth University emerged triumphant for the second year running at the end of the challenging and intensive two-day contest held over March 24 and 25 in Lancaster University Management School. The runner-up university teams came from Manchester Metropolitan University, Edge Hill University and Glyndwr University, though all of the teams impressed the event’s sponsors and judges, which came from a range of industrial sectors.

Louise Quinney, from lead sponsor BAE Systems, said: “At BAE Systems, our company values are Trusted, Innovative and Bold. Not only did I see each of those values displayed by the students, but they also performed with such confidence, professionalism, passion and drive. They were an inspiring representation of our future business generation.”

Benjamin Smith, from IBM, said: “IBM are proud to have sponsored and supported FLUX for the second consecutive year at Lancaster University; providing industry experts to the event, and co-developing the scenario. Working with the students over the two days, we have been hugely impressed with the calibre of the participants and the innovative wearable technology ideas presented.”

Dr Diane Cresswell, from BioNow, said: “It was very encouraging to see the inventiveness, application and professionalism demonstrated by the competing student teams from around the UK in addressing a pertinent e-health challenge. Time was very limited and the efforts and outputs of all participants are well worthy of recognition.”

Other companies involved in the competition as expert mentors and judges included Aldi, Micron, Thales, Deloitte, EY.

Mark Diggle, head of Careers at Lancaster University, said: “We have been pleased to host FLUX for the second year running at Lancaster University, seeing an increase in the number of universities and students participating, and businesses sponsoring and mentoring.

“The competition was a great learning opportunity for the students, and also a fantastic opportunity to impress a range of potential graduate employers from different industrial sectors.”

More information about FLUX 2015 can be found by visiting http://www.lancaster.ac.uk/careers/employers/fairs/flux/